Sheet folding machine



June 12, 1962 M. M. BALSAM SHEET FOLDING MACHINE 4 SheetsSheet 1 Filed Jan. 19, 1961 INVENTOR BY 7 W S, ATTORNEY June 12, 1962 M. M. BALSAM SHEET FOLDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 19', 1961 BY W m ATTORNEY June 1952 M. M. BALSAM 3,038,718

SHEET FOLDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 19, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG, 4

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"u la INVENTOR ATTORN EY June 12, 1962 M. M. BALSAM SHEET FOLDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 19, 1961 4 Sheets-Shzget 4 F 415 q 1 49 /9a. INVENTOR Z/ *L .1 x; n

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ATTORNEY 3,038,718 Patented June 12, 1962 3,038,718 SHEET FOLDING MACHINE Maurice M. Balsam, 27 W. 24th St, New York, N.Y. Filed Jan. 19, 1961, Ser. No. 83,757 Claims. (Cl. 270-40) The present invention relates to a sheet folding machine for folding a flexible sheet into accordion pleats, and more particularly to a folding machine for continuously pleating a wide band of a flexible plastic material.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a folding machine capable of pleating flexible sheets of a size suflicient to cover a motor car.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine capable of continuously pleating a band having a width sufficient to cover a motor car or similar large object.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a folding machine for continuously pleating a flexible band and for cutting equal lengths from the pleated band.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a folding machine for pleating a very wide band with means permitting an easy threading in of the leading end of the band.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a folding machine capable of pleating bands of different widths.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a folding machine with means for producing pleats of different depth.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a folding machine with means for selectively cutting off different lengths of a pleated band.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a folding machine with means for guiding a wide bandshaped sheet toward converging folding members.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a roller support for a roll of a band-shaped sheet, and to adjust the tension of the transported sheet by braking one of the support rollers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide converging blades for first forming zig-zag folds and then forming accordion pleats in a band-shaped sheet.

Another object of the present invention is to provide spreading means for spreading the converging ends of the folding blades during the threading in of the leading portion of the band-shaped sheet.

With these objects in 'view, one embodiment of the present invention com-prises supply means for continuously supplying a band-shaped flexible sheet; folding means having first staggered folding parts located in the region of the supply means and being farther spaced from each other, and having second staggered parts closer spaced from each other; and transporting mean-s in the region of the second folding parts.

A sheet supplied by the supply means and passing through the folding means is gathered and folded to form fiat zig-zag folds in the region of the first farther spaced folding parts, and to form deep accordion pleats in the region of the closely spaced second folding parts when its leading pleated portion is transported by the trans-' porting means, which preferably is a pair of cooperating transporting rollers.

The pleated band is cut behind the transporting rollers into equal lengths of pleated material, and each length of material is advantageously wound up on a take-up present invention, the folding means include first and second alternately arranged elongated folding blades which have farther spaced rear parts and closer spaced front parts so as to converge toward the transporting rollers. The first and second folding blades have staggered folding edges for forming fold lines in the sheet. The relative position of the first and second folding blades can be adjusted so that more or less deep pleats are formed in the sheet.

In order to properly guide a very wide sheet into the converging channels between the converging folding blades, a curved guide member extends behind the rear parts of the folding blades along an are so that the converging folding blades are substantially perpendicular to the arc of the curved guiding means and converge toward the center of curvature thereof. I

It is advantageous to dispose the rear parts of the folding blades along a cor-responding are parallel to the arc of the curved guide means.

Preferably, between the curved guide means and the rear end of the folding blade, a guide is disposed which has a series of recesses in which the sheet is received so that preliminary folds are formed therein.

The curved guide means and the recessed guide render the machine particularly suitable for the pleating of very wide band-shaped sheets so that pleated covers for motor cars and other large objects can be manufactored.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating the machine according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the machine illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the drive of the transporting means and cutting means on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 4 4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View on an enlarged scale taken on line 55 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 66 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 7-7 in FIG. 6.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a frame 1 includes a base 11, four upright parts 12, 13, 14 and 15, and a higher horizontal part which comprises a table 16, and three frame parts 17, 18 and 19 of different widths.

As best seen in FIG. 6, a pair of support rollers 21 is mounted on brackets 22' on the rear part of the base 11 for supporting a roll 23 formed of a wound up flexible sheet 24 which is guided over one of the support rollers 21 and another guide roller 25 to a guide roller 26 which is rotatable on brackets 27 which are mounted on blocks 19:: on frame part 19.

Bolts 28 secure supports 29 to the block 19a, and a curved guide member 30 of cylindrical shape is mounted on supports 29. As best seen in FIG. 1, the curved guide member 30 extends in a horizontal arc across the frame part 19 of the machine.

The band-shaped sheet is guided from roller 26 over the curved guide member 30 so that it is gathered to some extent whereby its edges 24a and 24b converge to ward the front end of the machine.

The sheet passes between folding means 40, as will be described hereinafter in greater detail which further gather and fold the sheet so that pleats are formed which are gripped between a pair of transporting rollers 50 which pull the sheet through the folding means, over the curved guide member 30, and off the sheet roll 23.

The pleated sheet portion 24c is cut by cutting means 60, and the cut off length 24d of the pleated sheet is transported between pairs of cooperating brushes 70, and finally wound up on a takeup reel 80.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the transporting means 50 include a pair of transporting rollers 51 and 52 which are connected by gear rings 51a and 52a. A motor 90 drives a pulley 91 which is connected by belt 92 to another pulley 93 driving a pinion 94 meshing with the gear ring 51a so that transporting roller 51 is driven. Transporting roller 51 is mounted on a shaft 53, and between shaft 53 and transporting roller 51, a slip clutch is disposed which permits transporting roller 51 to turn only in transporting direction, so that backlash is prevented.

The cutting means 60 include a pair of rotary cutting members 61 and 62. Cutting member 61 has an axially extending cutting knife 63 which cooperates with an anvil 64 extending in axial direction on cutting member 62. A pair of meshing gears 65 and 66 connects the cutting members 61 and 62 for rotation, and a bevel gear ring 67 on cutting member 61 meshes with a bevel gear 68 which is driven by a motor 100 through pulleys 1, 102, belt 103, and a transmission including a shaft 104, another shaft 105, and a one revolution clutch 106 which is controlled by an arm 107 which is pivoted on a pivot pin 108 on the frame of the machine, and is connected by a link 109 to the armature of an electromagnetic means 110. The solenoid of the electromagnetic means 110 is connected by a circuit to a micro switch 111 having a tripping arm 112 cooperating with a pin 54 which can be selectively set in bores 55 of a gear 56 which is driven by a pinion 57 fixed on another gear 58 which meshes with gear ring 51a of transporting roller 51.

Due to the reduction gearing 57, 58, gear 56 will rotate slower than gear 51a and transporting roller 51, so that switch 111 will be operated in a timed relationship with the revolutions of the transporting rollers, and when several pins 54 are set in bores 55, switch 111 will be more often actuated.

Whenever switch 111 is actuated and closed by pin 54, the solenoid of electromagnetic means 110 is energized, and link 109 pivots lever 107 so that its hook-shaped end 107a releases the one revolution coupling 106 which is spring loaded to assume a coupling position whenever released by hook 107a. Since shaft 104 is driven by motor 100, shaft 105 is driven whenever the one revolution coupling 106 is connected whereby the cutting members 61 and 62 perform a revolution during which the knife member 63 engages the anvil member 64 while cutting through the pleated sheet 240. When pin 54 releases switch 111, the electromagnetic means 110 is deenergized, and spring 109a retracts link 109 and lever 107 to a position disengaging the one revolution clutch 106 so that the cutting members 61 and 62 stop in a position in which the knife 63 and anvil 64 are turned away from the pleated band 240 so that the same can pass between the cutting members 61 and 62 until the switch 111 is again actuated; In this manner, a length of pleated sheet material 24d is cut off, and by setting the pins 54, different lengths can be selected.

A set of pairs of transporting brushes 71 and 72 transport the pleated sheet 24d farther on the supporting table 16, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and omitted in FIG. 3 for the sake of clarity. Each pair of transporting brushes 71, 72 is connected to a pair of meshing gears 73 and 74, and gear 74 is connected to a pulley 75 and to another pulley 78. A belt 76 passes over pulley 75 and another pulley 77 which is connected to pulley 93 for rotation "therewith, pulley 93 being driven from motor 90. Pulley 4 78 is connected by a belt 79 to the pulley 78 of the next following pair of transporting brushes 71 and 72, and another belt 79 connects the second pulley 78 with the next following pulley 78 so that all transporting brushes are driven from motor 90.

The operator grips the free leading end of the cut off link of the pleated sheet 24d and winds it on a take-up roll 80.

The rotary cutting member 62 and the transporting roller 52 are mounted on slides so that the gap between the cutting members and the transporting rollers can be adjusted by operation of handles 62a and 62b, respectively. The gears 51a and 52a remain in engagement during a slight adjustment of the spacing between the transporting rollers corresponding to the thickness of the transported pleated sheet. Gears 65 and 66 also remain in engagement when cutting roller 62 is adjusted to assure the exact cooperation between the knife 63 and anvil 64.

Motors and are switched on by a switch 90a, shown in FIG. 1.

The sheet 24a is folded and pleated by the folding means 40 which include first and second sets of alternate folding members or blades 41 and 42 as best seen in FIGS. 4 to 7. Folding blades 41 are suspended, while folding blades 42 rest on the frame 18, 19. The folding blades are supported at their rear parts as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and at their front parts as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Referring further to FIGS. 6 and 7, it will be seen that a transverse beam 19a connects the lateral parts of their frame and extends across the machine. Each folding blade 42 has a back reinforced by a channel 45 which is fixedly connected to a -U-shaped holder 46. A pivot bolt 48 passes through a bore in member 46, through a corresponding bore in a reinforcing plate 49, and through a bore in the transverse beam 19a. Consequently, each folding blade 42 is turnable about a pivot axis provided by the pivot bolt 48.

A pair of upright supports 121 is placed above the lower support 14, and uprights 121 are connected by a shaft 122 to form a support for a transverse beam on which the folding blades 41 are mounted. Each folding blade 41 has its back reinforced by channel 43 which is secured to a holder 44. Holder 44, a reinforcing member 49, and beam 120 are formed with bores through which a pivot bolt 47 passes so that folding blades 41 are turnable about the axes of the pivots 47.

The folding blades 41 and 42 are located in a horizontal plane, and the axes of the pivot 47, 48 are vertical, so that the front parts of the folding blades 41 and 42 can be moved toward and away from each other as will be best seen in FIG. 1. It is evident that it will be easier to thread in the sheet 24a when the front ends of the folding blades are moved apart.

As best seen in FIG. 7, the upper folding blades 41 having folding edges 41a, and the lower folding blades 42 have upper folding edges 42a. The folding edges 41a are located in the same horizontal plane, and the folding edges 42a are also located in a horizontal plane parallel to the plane of the folding edges 41a. Since the folding edges 41a and 42a are staggered .in vertical direction, the sheet 24a assumes zig-zag shape. It is evident that deeper folds can be produced by moving folding blades 41 to a lower position, and shallower folds can be produced by raising folding blades 41.

For this purpose, the transverse beam 120 has a pair of shaft portions on which a pair of pinions 123 are turnably mounted. The pinions are located in slots 121a having on one side a rack portion 12Gb on which the pinions roll in meshing engagement when the handle 124, which is connected to the pinions 123, is turned. Suitable counter-balancing means, not shown, are advantageously provided to counterbalance the weight of the folding blades 41. The beam 120 is fixed in a selected position by pins, not shown, set into a selected bore 121a in upright 121 and passing into a corresponding recess in beam 120.

A bar 125 is attached to each channel 43 of each folding blade 41, as shown in FIG. 6, and a curved rod 126 is secured by a nut 127 to bar 125 and extends along the rear edge of the respective folding blades 41 and partly along the folding edge 41a to protect the sheet material 24a from being torn at the rear ends of the folding blades 41. Similarly, bars 128 are secured to the channels 46 of the lower blades 42, and carry curved rods 129 which extend parallel to the rear edges of blades 42 and partly along the folding edges 42a of the same to protect the sheet 24a passing into the channel-shaped area between the folding blades 41 and 42.

Behind the rear ends of the folding blades, a guide 130 is mounted on the frame part 19 and has in its upper edge a series of recesses 131 on which the sheet 24a rests. The lowest point of recesses 131 are aligned with the folding blades 41, so that the sheet material 24a forms shallow zig-zag folds when resting in the recesses 131, such shallow folds being deepened and continued on the upper folding blades 41 while the curved rods 126 guide the fold lines of the sheet toward the folding edges 41a. The cooperation between the highest points of bar 131 the curved rods 129, and the folding edges 42a effects a smooth running of the sheet onto the lower blades 42.

As shown in FIG. 1, the guide 131) is curved to follow to some extent the curved line on which the rear ends of the folding blades 41 and 42 are located. As mentioned above, the guide member 30 is also curved, and preferably has a circular shape so that the folding blades 41 and 42 extend in radial direction with respect to the curved guide 3 0 and converge toward the center of curvature thereof. Consequently, the sheet 24a is gradually gathered in horizontal direction to first form shallow folds on the guide 130, and then deeper folds between the folding blades 41 and 42.

The front part of the folding blades 41 and 42 are closely spaced, as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The channels 43 along the backs of folding blade 41 are secured through holders 44a to which rods 147 are attached. The upper ends of rods 147 are curved hooks 147a which are placed on a shaft 145 carrying a pair of pinions 144 located in slots 142 of a pair of uprights 141) which are connected by a rod 141. When handles 146 are turned, the pinions 144 mesh with the rack portion 143 in slot 142, so that the upper blades 41 can be raised and'lowered, which is advantageously facilitated by counterbalancing weights, not shown. Shaft 145 is preferably fixed in a selected position by detachable stops, not shown.

A pair of arms 143 is turnably mounted on shaft 145, and connected by a transverse bar 149 which rests on the channels 43 of the upper folding blades 41. In this manner, the sheet is confined between the upper folding blades 41. When the sheet is to be threaded in at the beginning of the operation, the arms 148 are turned upwardly together with bar 149 as indicated in chain lines in FIG. 4.

The channels 45 of the lower folding blades 42 slidably rest on a plate 150 which is part of a slide having lateral parts 151 guided along frame part 152 for movement in longitudinal direction of the folding blades 41 and 42.

Slide 150 is connected to a link 153 which is articulated to a lever 154 turning with a shaft 155 which carries a crank handle 156'. Turning of handle 156 will turn lever 154 so that the slide 150 is shifted.

A set of spreading rollers 157 is mounted on the slide, the spreading rollers being located between the channels 45 of the lower blades 42 and two spreading rollers being located outside of the outermost folding blades 42.

Consequently, shifting of the spreading means 1511, 157 toward the right as viewed in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 will 6 move the front ends of the folding blades toward each other, while movement of the spreading rollers to the left will effect spreading of the front ends of the folding blades to a less convergent position which will facilitate the threading in of the leading parts of the sheet at the beginning of the operation.

While the front end of the folding blades 41 and 42 are spread or moved toward each other by the spreading means 150, 157, the rear ends of the folding blades 41 and 42 pivot about the pivot pins 47 and 48 as described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

The handles 146 and 124 may be simultaneously operated to hold the folding edges of the upper blades 41 in an exactly horizontal position, but it may be advantageous to incline the folding edges 41a so that the folds at the rear ends of the blades 41 are less deep than the narrower pleats at the front ends of the folding blades 41.

During the threading in of the forward end of the band-shaped sheet, the front end parts of the blades 41 and 42 are spread apart, and the upper blades 41 may be raised to a high position in which the folding edges 41a are located above the folding edges 42a of the lower folding blades so that the sheet can easily be placed between the upper and lower folding blades.

Thereupon, the upper folding blades are lowered, and the front ends of the folding blades are moved toward each other by operation of the spreading means 157 until the position illustrated in FIG. 5 is obtained in which narrow pleats of the same depth are formed in the sheet at the front end of the blades.

The thus pleated sheet is pulled until its free end is located between the transporting rollers 51 and 52, whereupon the machine can be started.

The transporting rollers will pull the pleated end of the sheet so that the entire sheet moves through the folding means 411 while being drawn over the curved guide means 31} and off the supply roll 23.

In order to prevent too rapid turning of the roll of sheet material 23, one of the supporting rollers 21 is braked by a brake arm 1611 which is operated by a cable 161 which is wound up on a roll 1 62 which is operated by handle 163 so that the resistance against the unrolling of the plastic sheet can be controlled by the operator.

A pair of discs 165 is mounted on brackets 166 which are supported on slides 167 which slide on the rail 168 on the rear end of base frame portion 11. The position of discs 165 is adjusted until the supply roll of plastic material 23 is located between the discs 165.

At the beginning of an operation, a roll 23 of a band shaped flexible elastic material is placed on the supporting rollers 21 between the discs 165, and the sheet 24 is placed on the rollers 25 and 26 guided about the curved guide means 311, and slightly gathered and placed in the recesses 131 of guide 30.

The upper folding blades 41 are raised by operation of handle 124 and 146 so that the folding edges 41a are located above the folding edges 42a. The sheet is pulled between the upper and lower folding blades and slightly beyond the front ends of the same. The spreading means 150, 157 is shifted to the left so that the front end of the blades are spread apart.

Thereupon the upper blades 41 are lowered by operation of handles 124 and 146 so as to project between the lower blades 42 whereby the folding edges 41a and 42a assume a staggered position as shown in F168. 5 and 7. When the desired depth of the fold is reached, the spreading means 151 157 is operated and shifted to the right so that the front ends of the folding blades 41 and 42 are shifted towards each other while the rear end of the folding blades 41 and 42 turn about the vertical pivots 47 and 48.

In this position, which is shown in FIG. 1, the folding blades 41 and 42 extend in substantial radial direction with respect to the curved guide means 31). The

forward leading end of the sheet is already pleated, so that the operator can place it between the transporting rollers 51 and 52 which are moved apart by operation of handle 52b. The pleated end of the sheet is also placed between the cutting members 61 and 62 which are in an inoperative position in which the blade and anvil do not engage each other. The foremost end of the pleated sheet is placed between the brushes 70..

The machine is now started by operation of switch 90a 50 that motors 90 and 100 are started. Motor 90 turns through the transmission 91, 92, 93, 94, and 51a, the transporting rollers 50, while motor 100 turns shaft 184 through pulleys 161 and 102 and belt 103. Shaft 105 and the cutting means 61 and 62 do not yet rotate since the coupling 106 is disengaged.

The transporting roller 52 is now moved toward transporting roller 51 so that the pleated sheet is gripped by the transporting rollers and transported. Brushes 71 and 72 also turn since they are driven from pulley 93, pulley 77, 75, 78, and belts 76 and 79.

The pin 54 has been set on member 56 in accordance with a selected length of the final cut off pleated sheet, and at a certain moment, the pin 54 engages the arm of switch 111 so that electromagnetic means 110 is energized, and effects through lever 107 engagement of the one revolution coupling 106 so that the cutting means 61, 62 turn until the blade 63 engages the anvil 64 and cuts through the pleated sheet 24c to form a cut off length 24d of the pleated sheet material. The cut off pieces may be wound on take-up roll 89.

In a modified embodiment, the rotary control means 56 of the cutting means may be omitted, and a sensing member provided on table 60 so that the leading end of the pleated sheet, and every following leading end of the sheet behind a cut off length, engages the sensing member, which operates the switch by which the solenoid 110 is controlled. By placing the sensing member closer or farther from the cutting means, the length of the cut off material can be selected.

It is evident that the sheet is moved only by the transporting means 50 against the resistance encountered by the sheet passing over the guide means and through the folding means, as well as by the resistance of the roll of sheet material 23 against being unwound. When the roll 23 nears its end (it will rotate very rapidly, and in this event, the brake 160 is advantageously operated to maintain a uniform tension in the transported sheet.

The width of the sheet material is limited by the transverse extension of the curved guide means 30. When a narrower sheet is being used, it is placed at the center of the curved guide means 30, and is threaded only through the centrally located folding blades 41 and 42. The curved guide means 30, however, permits the folding and pleating of very wide flexible plastic sheets so that the machine can be used for manufacturing pleating sheets of such length and width as to be capable of completely covering a motor car.

For this purpose, two persons grip the ends of the pleated sheets, and pull the sheet over the motor car while the pleats gradually unfold. It will be appreciated that this operation is far simpler than the covering of a motor car by an unpleated sheet, and that a pleated sheet of this size can be easier stored and handled than the unpleated sheets known for this purpose.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of folding machines differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a folding machine for continuously pleating a wide flexible band-shaped sheet and for cutting the pleated sheet to a length suflicient to cover a motor car, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A folding machine for pleating a band-shaped sheet, comprising, in combination, supply means for continuously supplying the sheet in one direction; folding means having first staggered folding parts located in the region of said supply means and being farther spaced from each other in a direction transverse to said one direction, and having second staggered folding parts closer spaced from each other in said transverse direction so that a sheet passing through said folding means is gathered and folded to form flat zig-zag folds in the region of said first folding parts, and to form deep accordion pleats in the region of said second folding parts; transporting means in the region of said second folding parts for engaging the accordion pleats of the sheet to compress the same and to transport the sheet in pleated condition; rotary cutting means on the side of said transporting means remote from said folding means; drive means; transmission means connectin g said drive means with said rotary cutting means including a normally disengaged coupling; and control means including a rotary control member connected to said transporting means and actuated by the same, a switch operated by said rotary control member, an electromagnetic means having a circuit connected to said switch and being operatively connected to said coupling to effect engagement of the same, when energized, so that said coupling is operated when said switch is closed by said rotary control member whereby equal lengths of the sheet are cut off.

2. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cutting means include a pair of cutting rollers, one of said cutting rollers having an anvil part and the other cutting roller having a knife part, gear means connecting said cutting rollers for rotation, and a gear connected to one of the cutting rollers for rotation and being driven by said transmission means.

3. A folding machine for pleating a flexible bandshaped sheet, comprising, in combination, supply means for continuously supplying the sheet in one direction; guide means for guiding the supplied sheet and extending transverse to said one direction a distance at least equal to the width of the spread sheet, said guide means guiding the supplied sheet in a plane; first and second alternately arranged elongated folding members having rear parts located in the region of said guide means farther spaced in said plane in said transverse direction and front parts closer spaced in said plane in said transverse direction, said first and second folding members having folding edges between said front and rear parts staggered in a direction transverse to said plane for guiding the sheet so that when a sheet passes between said folding members, said edges form flat zig-zag folds in the sheet in the region of said farther spaced rear parts, and deep accordion pleats in the region of said front parts, said folding edges of said first folding members being aligned in one plane, and said folding edges of said second members being aligned in another plane; means supporting said rear parts of said first and second folding members for angular displacement about axes transverse to said plane; spreading means mounted for movement in said one direction and including a set of spreading members located between and outside of said front parts of at least said second folding members so that shifting of said spreading means effects spreading apart or moving together respectively of said 9 front parts to facilitate threading in of the sheet when said front parts are spread apart; manually operated means connected to said spreading means for operating the same; and transporting means in the region of said front parts for engaging the accordion pleats of the sheet to compress the same and to transport the sheet in pleated condition.

4. A machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein said spreading members are spreading rollers; wherein said folding members are blades; and wherein said spreading rollers roll on the sides of said blades when said spreading means is shifted.

5. A folding machine for pleating a flexible bandshaped sheet, comprising, in combination, supply means for continuously supplying the sheet in one direction; guide means for guiding the supplied sheet and including a guide member curved in one plane and extending in said plane in a direction transverse to said one direction a distance at least equal to the width of the spread sheet; first and second alternately arranged elongated folding members having rear parts located in the region of said guide member farther spaced in said transverse direction and front parts closer spaced in said transverse direction, said folding members extending substantially toward the center of curvature of said curved guide member and said rear parts being located along a curved line so that the sheet is gathered between said curved guide member and said rear parts of said folding members, said first and second folding members having staggered folding edges between said front and rear parts for guiding the sheet so that when a sheet passes between said folding members, said edges form flat zig-zag folds in the sheet in the region of said farther spaced rear parts, and deep accordion pleats in the region of said front parts; and transporting means in the region of said front parts for engaging the accordion pleats of the sheet to compress the same and to transport the sheet in pleated condition.

6. A folding machine for pleating a flexible bandshaped sheet, comprising, in combination, supply means for continuously supplying the sheet in one direction; guide means for guiding the supplied sheet and including a guide member curved in one plane and extending in said plane in a direction transverse to said one direction a distance at least equal to the width of the spread sheet; first and second alternately arranged elongated folding members having rear parts located in the region of said guide member farther spaced in said transverse direction and front parts closer spaced in said transverse direction, said folding members extending substantially toward the center of curvature of said curved guide member and said rear parts being located along a curved line so that the sheet is gathered between said curved guide member and said rear parts of said folding members, said first and second folding members having staggered folding edges between said front and rear parts for guiding the sheet so that when a sheet passes between said folding members, said edges form flat zig-zag folds in the sheet in the region of said farther spaced rear parts, and deep accordion pleats in the region of said front parts; a guide located between said guide member and said rear parts of said folding members and extending in said transverse direction, said guide being disposed to be located below the sheet and having a series of transversely spaced recesses for supporting the sheet whereby preliminary folds are formed in the same; and transporting means in the region of said front parts for engaging the accordion pleats of the sheet to compress the same and to transport the sheet in pleated condition.

7. A folding machine for pleating a flexible bandshaped sheet, comprising, in combination, supply means for continuouslysupplying the sheet in one direction; guide means for guiding the supplied sheet and including a guide member curved in one plane and extending in said plane in a direction transverse to said one direction a distance at least equal to the width of the spread sheet; first and second alternately arranged elongated folding members having rear parts located in the region of said guide member farther spaced in said transverse direction and front parts closer spaced in said transverse direction, said folding members extending substantially toward the center of curvature of said curved guide member and said rear parts being located along a curved line substantially parallel to said curved guide member so that the sheet is gathered between said curved guide member and said rear parts of said folding members, said first and second folding members having staggered folding edges between said front and rear parts for guiding the sheet so that when a sheet passes between said folding members, said edges form flat zig-Zag folds in the sheet in the region of said farther spaced rear parts, and deep accordion pleats in the region of said front parts; a guide located between said guide member and said rear parts of said folding members and extending in said transverse direction, said guide being disposed to be located below the sheet and having a series of transversely spaced recesses for supporting the sheet whereby preliminary folds are formed in the same, said guide being curved so that at least parts thereof extend perpendicular to said folding members; and transporting means in the region of said front parts for engaging the accordion pleats of the sheet to compress the same and to transport the sheet in pleated condition.

8. A folding machine for pleating a flexible band-shaped sheet, comprising, in combination, supply means for continuously supplying the sheet in one direction; guide means for guiding the supplied sheet and including a guide member curved in one plane and extending in said plane in a direction transverse to said one direction a distance at least equal to the width of the spread sheet; first and second alternately arranged elongated folding members having rear parts located in the region of said guide member farther spaced in said plane in said transverse direction and front parts closer spaced in said plane in said transverse direction, said folding members extending substantially toward the center of curvature of said curved guide member and said rear parts being located along a curved line so that the sheet is gathered be tween said curved guide member and said rear parts of said folding members, said first and second folding members having folding edges between said front and rear parts staggered in a direction transverse to said plane for guiding the sheet so that when a sheet passes between said folding members, said edges form flat zig-zag folds in the sheet in the region of said farther spaced rear parts, and deep accordion pleats in the region of said front parts, said folding edges of said first folding members being aligned in one plane, and said folding edges of said second folding members being aligned in another plane; and transporting means in the region of said front parts for engaging the accordion pleats of the sheet to compress the same and to transport the sheet in pleated condition.

9. A folding machine for pleating a flexible band-shaped sheet, comprising, in combination, supply means for continuously supplying the sheet in one direction; guide means for guiding the supplied sheet and including a guide member curved in one plane and extending in said plane in a direction transverse to said one direction a distance at least equal to the width of the spread sheet; first and second alternately arranged elongated folding members having rear parts located in the region of said guide member farther spaced in said plane in said transverse direction and front parts closer spaced in said plane in said transverse direction, said folding members extending substantially toward the center of curvature of said curved guide member and said rear parts being located along a curved line substantially parallel to said curved guide member so that the sheet is gathered between said curved guide member and said rear parts of said folding members, said first and second folding members having folding edges between said front and rear parts staggered in a direction transverse to said plane for guiding the sheet so that when a sheet passes between said folding members, said edges form flat zig-zag folds in the sheet in the region of said farther spaced rear parts, and deep accordion pleats in the region of said front parts, said folding edges of said folding members being aligned in one plane, and said folding edges of said second folding members being aligned in another plane; a guide located between said guide member and said rear parts of said folding members and extending in said transverse direction, said guide being disposed to be located below the sheet and having a series of transversely spaced recesses for supporting the sheet whereby preliminary folds are formed in the same, said guide being curved so that at least parts thereof extend perpendicular to said folding members; and transporting means in the region of said front parts for engaging the accordion pleats of the sheet to compress the same and to transport the sheet in pleated condition.

10. A folding machine for pleating a flexible bandshaped sheet, comprising, in combination, supply means for continuously supplying the sheet in one direction; guide means for guiding the supplied sheet and including a rounded guide member curved in one plane and extending in said plane in a direction transverse to said one direction a distance at least equal to the width of the spread sheet; first and second alternately arranged elongated folding members having rear parts located in the region of said guide member farther spaced in said plane in said transverse direction and front parts closer spaced in said plane in said transverse direction, said folding members extending substantially toward the center of curvature of said curved guide member and said rear parts being located along a curved line so that the sheet is gathered between said curved guide member and said rear parts of said folding members, said first and second folding members having folding edges between said front and rear parts staggered in a direction transverse to said plane for guiding the sheet so that when a sheet passes between said folding members, said edges form fiat zigzag folds in the sheet in the region of said farther spaced rear parts, and deep accordion pleats in the region of said front parts; first support means supporting the rear parts of said first folding members, and second support means supporting the front parts of said first folding members for movement transverse to said plane; first and second adjusting means respectively connected to the first and second support means for respectively adjusting the position of said rear parts and front parts of said first folding members so that said folding edges of said first folding members can be displaced relative to said folding edges of said second folding members to adjust the depth of the fold and pleats in the sheet, and for threading in the sheet; and transporting means in the region of said front parts for engaging the accordion pleats of the sheet to compress the same and to transport the sheet in pleated condition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 813,593 Sexton Feb. 27, 1906 947,007 Wheat Jan. 18, 1910 1,003,023 Ziegler Sept. 12, 1911 1,313,712 McFarland Aug. 19, 1919 1,433,148 Parsons Oct. 24, 1922 1,759,844 Gudge et a1 May 27, 1930 2,314,757 Benedict Mar. 23, 1943 

